Fixture for fluorescent lights and the like



Feb. 9, 1965 R. A. HEISLER FIXTURE FOR FLUORESCENT LIGHTS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 17, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 II III/II II II II II II I! II I III/II II II II II 1.

INVENTOR.

Feb. 9, I965 R. A. HEISLER 3,168,987

FIXTURE FOR FLUORESCENT LIGHTS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 17, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w FIG. I3

INVENTOR.

gWm/AJ Feb. 9, 1965 R. A. HEISLER FIXTURE FOR FLUORESCENT LIGHTS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 17, 1963 hm mm United States g r 3,168,987 4 FIXTURE FUR FLUQRESCENT lLll HTS a AND THE Lilill, Raymond A. Heisler, 122 Surrey Drive, Wayne, NJ. Filed Jan. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 252,097, a 6 Claims. (Cl. 240%5111) This invention relates to improvements in moistureresistant'fixtures'for fiuorescenttubes and more'particularly to those fixtures intended for use in damp or humid conditions. .1

Although the use of fluorescent tubes has been widespread for many years and many specialized and general fixtureshave been 'made so as to usethem, fixtures adapted for use under humid, damp and adverse weather conditions have not been generally available.

' It has been 'found that beneficial results useful in the controlled growing of flowers and vegetables such as are found in nursery and greenhouse enterprises are available in the rays emitted from certain fluorescent tubes. The use of these tubes in such growing conditions require that safe and satisfactory fixtures be moisture resistant. In

amass? Patented i posed and when lighted will provide illumination in virjtuallya three hundred sixty degree area.

It is a'further object toprovide a ballast'container of moisture resistant construction and with a support pointed out in the appended claims, and that various,

may be made Without departing from the spirit or sacrie addition the fixtures, in so far as, possible,'should be useablein presentelectrical installations and physical equip ment. V n

The present invention contemplates the providing of an economical, moisture-resistant fluorescent fixture including in itsscope certain features using among other components, a'conventi'onal ballast housed in art st-proof V or rust-resistant container. The container is further combined with a standard screw fitting adapted for insertion into a conventional female screw receptacle. A moisture resistant closure at this connection is made by placing a sponge rubber bushingaround the screw fitting.

This rubber; bushing additionally enables the fixture; to .be screwed to a certain predeterminedpoint where the lampwill be oriented or aligned as desired by the user. Mounted within, the container is a starter socket aligned with a resilient bushing so that a starter can be easily inserted or removed from the socket. This bushing excludes moisture and prevents the moisture from reach ing the'starter socket.

A bottom coverplat'e is attached to the container and mounted on this bottomgplate are two spring-type clips which hold the fluorescent, tube in a secure manner and in a spaced relationship to the container. lso from the container are led two flexible water-proof electri cal con-v. ductorspassing through rubber grommets to prevent the chafing of the conductorsasthey pass through the con tainer wall. On the other end of the' conductors ;are arranged rubber end caps each acting. asan electrical insulator, a rnoisture barrier and as a holder of a contactiblock. The end caps in addition havesorientatiom provisionin relation to ,thefcontact'pins of the fluorescent tube fand'are easily slidon or off the ends of,

installationpr'replacement of the tube. v W'th the fregoing and other. considerations in mind this invef ntion contemplates providing a moisture-resistant;

fluorescent fixture, safe touseand easyiand ec on omical to manufacture. The-fixture is, further intended to be easy a to' install and'to be easily serviced in theireplacement'of tube for means for holding the fluorescent tube in fixed relationship thereto. It is also intended that end caps, adapted .to engage and be retained on the ends of the fluorescent tube in a moisture-excluding manner, will also actas effective, safe, electrical insulators and carriers of electrical contacting means.

,With the foregoing objects,,features and advantages in. a

view together'with others which will appear as the descrip tion proceeds, it will be noted that the invention comprises certain novel features ofconstruction, arrangement and structure hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in; the accompanying drawings, and particularly changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the described construction, arrangement and structure through the several figures of the drawings:

I to be installed;

2 2 of FIG. 11;

FIGUREl is aso-mcwhat' simplified sideviewof the assembled fixture; I Q j FIG. 2 isan enlarged sectional view of the ballastcont ainer showing thejginternal components taken on the line FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectionalview of the end cap assembly showingthe tube ready to be inserted? FIG. 4 is a somewhat simplified sectionalvi'ew of a contact blockwith the spring contact showniabove ready FIG. Sfis an. end view of the contact block; a, 7 FIG. 6 is aZtragmentary sectional viewshowing the ethod of assembly of spring contact withthe contact block;

FIG. 7 isa view of the contact block taken onthe line- 7 -7 of FIGV4; vf r FIG. Sisj a top View of the spring contact taken on the line. s sof FIG. 4;

- FIG. 9 is an end view'loolring intothe end cap-taken 1 13 is aside view of the spring clip; Ji- FIG, 14is a diagram of; a high-andjlow power :factor expandablefcomponents such as starters and-fluorescent tubes. ",The fixture further provides an in'sulated assembly so arranged and constructed that accidental exposure to electrical current or shockis nearly non-existent.

It is anlobject of this invention to. provide a fixture which utilizes the strength of the fluorescent tube to pro,-

vide a support for the end electrical connections. It is a further contemplated that inlutilizing the tube as a-self-' support and the consequent elimination of metal shields, brackets'or conductors and the like,the tube thus ex- -PIG. .is a fragmentary enlarged view showing the engagement of-the contact block and the rubber end cap takenon the line 1il @:0f FIGS; p g FIG l is an enlarged end view, of the ballast container taken on the line 11-11 of FIG.; 1;

FIG. 12 is a top view of a'safety spring clip;

in Pro. 1;-

, FIG. 15 is a diagram oi snails embodininiuuii iing a high power factoninstant start, fluorescent .circuitgs FIG. 16 is a side view' of anotherexemplificationhava ing' a ballast container assembly using no starter;

FIG. 17iis ac diagram of a lower power'fa ctongrapid start fluorescent circuitusing. a'ballast container such as in FIG. 16;]

FIG. 18 is adiagram; of ahigh .power factor, rapid start fluorescenncircuitjusing a ballast container such as in FIG.- 16. Q

pehe'at fluorescenlilcircuit as used with the cornponentsf end of the tube Ztl supports and is covered by an end i cap 26. Electrical current is carried from ballast con-.

tainer 22 to end cap 26 by means of a pair of conductor wireassemblies 23. Upon the top of ballast container 22 is mounted a male electrical plug 3d of conventional design and construction and adapted for installing in a drop light or other similar electrical outlet. Extending out of the ballast container 22 through an insulated opening therein and to be hereinafter describedin a starter 32 of conventional design, construction and use. 7

The preferred arrangement of the elements within and leading from the ballast container 22 is shown in FIG. 2.

A shell 34 is formed to house the components required to be sealed within. This shell is preferably of a rust proof 7 metal such as aluminum or may be made of steel with a rust resistant outer surface. A ballast 36 is disposed within the shell 34 and located so that a surrounding medium of pitch 38 will seal and support the ballast in.

an insulated position. The bottom of the ballast container 22 is protected by a cover ill which 'is'preferably made of a material similar to shell 34. By means of screws or rivets 42 the spring clips 24 are fastened to the cover all. The wire conductors 23 are passed through A. on the conductor 28. In the present instance the conductor 28 is slightly larger than a quarter inch in diameter and the passageway 66 is made ten to fifteen thousandths of an inch smaller than the conductor. At the termination of the passageway 65 isformed an insulator-block recess 58 so arranged and constructed as to snugly receive insulator block 7%). The block "Iii is rectangular in shape and is formed of a phenolic plasticor similar electrical insulating material. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 the block '79 cooperates with end cap 26 to provide certain passageways for wire, pins and lock means to be hereinafter described.

Referring now particularly to block 70 there are disposed on opposite sides of the block a pair of engaging lugs 72 each lug having a sloped side 74 and a rightangularly formed shoulder 76. To mate with and engage lugs '72, a recess-73h moulded in cap 26, the recess providing an abutment '79 to engage the right-angle shoulder 76 of the block '71). To accept and retain the end of tube 29 the cap 2-5 has an annular recess 80 formed therein. In the present instance the end of the tube 20 is approximately one and fifteen-thirty seconds inches in diameter holes'formed in the end walls of the shell 34 with a rubber grommet 44 providing therequired insulating and wear protection against the sharp metal edge hereafter to be more fully described. On one end of theshell 34 and adjacent to the outlet for wire conductor 28 is a hole formed for the starter 32. A resilient water-proof bushing 46 is fitted in this hole, the bushing 46 having an inside diameter of such sis as to permit the insertion of the starter 32 with a friction fit sufficient to prevent water or moisture to pass from the outside atmosphere to the inside of the ballast container. In practice it has been found that starters of twenty, thirty and forty watt capacity are about thirteen-sixteenths of an inch in diameter and and is radiused into a. fiat end with pins 82 and S3 extending therefrom. To permit the tube 2b to be slid into the annular recess 8t and yet to cause the cap 26 to effect a moistureresistant seal, the recess 80 in the present instance is made from twenty to twenty-five thousandths inches smaller in diameter than the tube 20.

The insulator block 76 is arranged to hold the ends of a pair of wires. As shown the pair of wires may be either 84 and 85 or as designated on the other end 86 and 87, each pair being carried in wire conductor 28.

To assemble the various elementslisted above into the pair of end caps 26 the following method of assembly is preferred. Thepair of wire conductors 28 is cut to a predetermined length, the outer end is fed through a passageway 64% in support lug 62 andjthen twoor three inches ventional design and construction. Screws 5% are used to attach the starter socket 43 to shell 34. The electric plug Ell is attached to shell 34' by means of screws 52. A hole 54 is formed in the top of, shell 34 to permit passage of wires 56 and 57 from the electric-plug 36. A sponge rubber or similar material is used in making a gasket 53 which provides an adjustable moisture-resistant seal between plug Sti and the electrical outlet into which the fixture is to be installed. This gasketSti is of suflicien't thickness to allow'nearly one hundred-eighty degrees of rotation and engagement of thread as in a mating thread of a receptacle (notshown). A gasket 58 made of neoprene sponge rubber approximately three-sixteenthsinch thick and having an inner hole so as to be fitted snugly to thread 60 has been verysatisfactory.

Electrical wireconductors 228 as shown in the present embodiment are flexible leads with a plastic or rubber sheath. conductors '28 are of 'sufiicient length to ment the cap 26 is made of neoprene rubber of approximately fifty to, sixty durometer. To-support the wire conductor 28 a support lug 62 is formed onthe cap 26. A

in. Passageway 66 is made so as to-be a very snug lit passageway 64 is formed in the lug- 62, the passageway V 64 being a snug, sliding fitfor the conductor 28. The end of the cap 26 has also a passageway 6% formed there-- are drawn through passageway 6-5. Wire ends 84, 85, 86 and 87 are exposed by removing a portionof the sheath of conductor 2S and about a quarter inch of Wire is 8X- posed by removing the insulation from the ends of wires 84, 85, $5 and 8'7. An uninsulated wire end is then laid in formed groove 94, then spring contact 90 is placed in position and the bent leg 91 is pushed into channel 88. This procedure isrepeated for each end, of wire, 84, 85,

86 and'ai'7. The insertion of leg 91 into channel tifi to a position where the wire is crimped and locked in groove 94 and under leg 91 as shown inFlG. 6 provides an I economical and shielded assembly. After both contacts 949 are assembled in place the block 70 is inserted into block recess 68 while at the same timethe conductor 28 is drawn backthrough passageway as. When the block "it; reaches the rearof recess '68 the lug '72 will have entered recess 78, the sloped side '74 permitting easy insertion. After the shoulder '76 has reached the engaging point of abutment 79 the withdrawalof the block 70 is restricted. It is'to be noted that when assembled into bloclriti'the xi-formed protuberance 92 liesin an engaging path of pin 82 and 83 when the tubeZll is inserted.

' One configuration of spring clip 24 is exemplified in FIG. 11 andv in'conjunction'therewith is a safety snap spring Mill shown in phantom outline in FIG. 11 and in solid detail in FIGS 12 and 13. This snap spring 189 is contemplated to be used at the discretion or desire of the operator. As shown the clip 24 has the ends rolled so as to provide openings 162 and 103. The safety snap spring irtlti is made of wire of sucha diameter that the ends 164 will slide into and pivot in the opening 103. The opposite end 1% of the clip 1% is snapped into the opening 1!)2. The sides N28 are formed in an arcuate manner to enable the clip llltl to lie adjacent to the tube 2% andat the same time be able to be snapped into the clip opening 102.

In the present instance, the preferred method of assembly of the components of FIG. 1 into shell 34 is to be particularly noted. After the attachment of the starter in conductor 28 is fed by wiresll39 and, Mt). The end of lamp 138 is fed by wires 141 and 142.

socket 48 and electrical plug St in place in shell 34, the ballast .36 is brought into position and in accordance to the circuit diagram shown inFIG. 14 the wires 56, 57, 84, 85, 86 and 87 are connected. The starter socket 48 as shownin FIG. 2 and as commercially supplied, has; the back sealed ofi either with a fibre back cover or with'an attached piece of sealing paper. All wire joints'are pro- 7 tectedby commercially approved insulators, tape or other common shielding medium wherein possible contact with each other or with shell 34 or ballast 36 is eliminated. The shell 34 is now placed with the electrical plug 39 in a down position and the ballast 36 is spaced away from shell 34 by using wires 56, 57, 84, 85, heand 87 as spacers Within the shell 34. Fluid pitch 33 is then poured into the shell until the shell 34 is filled. Cover all is now placed in position and by means of screws 109 is fastened in place. After pitch 38 has solidified the assembly is ready to be used. I

Although the preferred embodiment contemplates the use of a starter 32 and provision is therefore provided in ballast container 22, the use of a fluorescent tube 20 having the characteristics of a rapid or instant start tube, would justify the selection of components usually used with such tubes. Accordingly the starter 32 would be eliminated and aballast with the desired capacity and characteristics would be placed inside a shell llrtl whence the ballast containerwould appear as in FIG. 16.

In'illustrating the circuits that can be utilized in assembling a fixture it is readily conceded that many variations are possible. The circuits chosen for purpose of illustration are very commonly used to accommodate the lamps selected. Each circuit utilizes a commercial ballast designed and furnishedto accommodate the particular condition present, and in no way is it to be construed that the circuits are anything but an illustration cfa way of producing four difierent results with four different ballasts and lamps suitably constructed for use with said ballasts;

The pins 82 and 83 are then aligned so as to engage the.

guideways 98 in caps 26 and the lugs 62 of the caps are placed in the up position.

83 engaging guideways 93 thence onto spring contacts 90 whence the electrical circuit is completed. To replace the tube 20, the end caps 26 are pushed oh? the, old tube 20 and the tube is removed from springs 24, the nevvtube is then installed 'as above. The assembly is screwed into a socket with thread at) engaging a corresponding female thread with the gasket 58 sealing the male electric plug 30 and the female outlet. enables the tube 20 to be aligned in a desired position.

Having described my invention-with some particularity, the above disclosure is by way of illustration and although a specific embodiment has been shown and described it will of course be understood that various other modifica tions may be devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention as found in the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1

l. In a moisture-resistant fixture for a fluorescent tube comprising a ballast container, a ballast insulated from and residing in said containenan electrical socket engaging means attached to and extending from said. container, spring clips attached to the container and adapted to removably hold a tube intermediate its ends in'spaced relationship to the container, a pair of flexible moistureresistant wire conduc tors passing through the walls of and extending from said J container, flexible moisture-re sistant end caps mounted on the end of said Wire con ductors and adapted for mounting on the .El'ld ofand. to bev supported by the fluorescent tube, a recess formed in said end cap, an insulating block removably mounted in saidrecess, a guideway formed in said block the guideway arranged to receive a contacting pin on the end of the fluorescent tube, pin contacting meansin said block arranged to effect an electrical connection to said pin, a

flexible contacting and sealing means defining an annular recessin the end cap and arranged'to engage and hold the end of the tube in a manner to exclude moisture,and electrical conducting means tocarry current from said socket engaging means to said pin contacting means,

and characteristics is used. No starter or socket is required. Aninstant start lamp 114 is-selected and in conductor 28. is fed by a wire 115 led to one end of the lamp 114, while in the other conductor 28 wire 57 and 115 are 2 led to'the other end of'the lamp.

When aflow power factor, rapid-.startfluorescent unit is desired, a circuit such asthat illustrated in FIG. 17 is selected; A ballast 128, commercially available, of the fproper'size and characteristics is,used.. No starter or socket isrequired. A rapid start lamp'l3tl is selected and in conductor 28 is fedtby wires 131 and 132'. The other end of lamp 139 is fed by wires 133 and 134; Line 57 is led to. a capacitance strip (not shown) placed adjacent to the lamp 130.

When a highpower factor, rapid start fluorescent circuit is desired,a circuit such as that illustrated in FIG. 18 is selected. A'ballast v136, commercially available,of the. fproper size and characteristics is used. No starter or socket is required. Arapid start lamp 158 is selected and The fixtures utilizing circuits illustrated in FlGSdlS,

shown in FIG; 1 6.

' and Operation 17 andflS would use the ballastcontainer assembly a After the ballast container 22;:is assembled as outlined above and; the endcaps 26 are assembledjthe tube 20 is 2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein a resilient bushing is disposed on the electrical socket engaging means, the bushing eifecting a moisture resistant seal between the said means and a mating electrical outlet when inserted therein.

Ina moisture-resistant fixture for a fluorescent tube comprising a ballast. container of moisture resistant material, a cover for said container, a ballast element within said container, an electrical socket engaging meansah taehedto and extending from said container, retaining means attached to the container and adapted to removably hold a tube intermediate its ends .and in spaced.

relationship to the containena starter socket within said container and having the receiving portion disposed out- 5 wardly opposite a ,resilientbushing defining a moisturerestraining starter passagewam a pair of flexible moisture resistant wire conductors passing through the Walls of and extending from said container, flexible moisture-resrstant'end caps mounted on the end of said wire conductors and adapted for mounting on the end ofand to be supported by the fluorescent tube, a recess formed in said end cap, an insulating block removably mounted in said recess, a pair of guideways formed in said block, the

guidewaysarranged' to receivea pair of contacting pins on the end of the fluorescent tube, pin contacting means in said block arranged, to effect an fining an annular recess in the; end cap and arranged to engage and hold the end of thetube in a manner to ex elude moisture, and electrical conducting means to carry current from saidsocket engaging means to and through said ballast and'starter to said pin contactingmeans.

The end caps 26 are then pushed onto the ends of tube 20 with the pins 82 and.

The gasket 58 being resilient electrical connection I to said pins, a flexible contacting and sealing means de-' 4. Structure according to claim 3 wherein a resilient bushing is disposed on the electrical socket engaging rneans, the bushing efiecting a moisture resistant seal between the said means and a mating electrical outlet when inserted therein. 7

5. Structure according to claim 2 wherein the insulating block recess of the end cap is or" a rectangular cross section, a pair of oppositely disposed grooves formed in the walls of the recess, a pair of protuberantly formed shoulders formed on the exterior walls of the insulating block and adapted to engage and be retained by the grooves in the recess when the insulating block is seated in said recess, at least one ilat spring contact receiving and retaining cavity formed in the side of the insulating block, a tube-pin entering channel formed in the end wall of the insulating block, a groove substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the block, the groove being additionally formed in the spring receiving cavity and adapted to receive the stripped end of the wire conductor, and a flat spring contact having a bent-leg portion and when inserted in the cavity the bent-leg portion of the spring contact is adapted to slide in and engage the right angle groove and to engage the stripped and oi the wire so as to provide a current carrying c nnection and lock the stripped wire end of the wire in the groove, and the other end of the that spring laying in the cavity and adjacent the tube pin entering groove and in the way of the tube piniso as to positively engage the entering pin of a fluorescent tube.

6. Structure according to claim 4 wherein the insulating block recess of the end cap is of arectangular cross section, a pair of oppositely disposed grooves formed in the walls of the recess, a pair of protuberantly for-med amass? shoulders formed on t,e exterior Walls of the insulating block and adapted to engage and be retained by the grooves in the recess when the insulating block is seated in said recess, at least one flat spring contact receiving and retainin cavity formed in the side of the'insulating block, a'tu'he-pin entering channel formed in the end Walt of the insulating block, a groove substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the block, the groove being additionally formed in the spring receiving cavity and adapted to receive the stripped end of a Wire conductor, and a flat spring contact having a bentieg portion and when inserted in the cavity the bent-leg portion of the spring contact is adapted to slide in and engage the right angle groove and to engage the stripped end of the wire so as to provide a current carrying connection and lock the stripped wire end of the wire in the groove, and the other end of the flat spring laying in the cavity and adjacent the tube pin entering groove and in the way of the tube pin so as to positively engage the entering pin of a fluorescent tube.

References fited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,056,739 10/36 Rabezzana 240-112 2,272,275 2/42 Pieper 2405 1.11 X 2,295,883 9/42 Williams 2405l.ll X 2,412,826 12/46 Mills et al. 33955 X 2,583,939 1/52 French et al. 24051.1l 2,739,291 3/56 Frankel '33999 2,741,694 4/56 Thomstad et al. 240-5l.1l 3,113,694 12/63 Sulzer 240-51.11 X

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MOSITURE-RESISTANT FIXTURE FOR A FLUORESCENT TUBE COMPRISING A BALLAST CONTAINER, A BALLAST INSULATED FROM AND RESIDING IN SAID CONTAINER, AN ELECTRICAL SOCKET ENGAGING MEANS ATTACHED TO AND EXTENDING FROM SAID CONTAINER, SPRING CLIPS ATTACHED TO THE CONTAINER AND ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY HOLD A TUBE INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO THE CONTAINER, A PAIR OF FLEXIBLE MOISTURERESISTANT WIRE CONDUCTORS PASSING THROUGH THE WALLS OF AND EXTENDING FROM SAID CONTAINER, FLEXIBLE MOISTURE-RESISTANT END CAPS MOUNTED ON THE END OF SAID WIRE CONDUCTORS AND ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING ON THE END OF AND TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE FLUORESCENT TUBE, A RECESS FORMED IN SAID END CAP, AN INSULATING BLOCK REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID RECESS, A GUIDEWAY FORMED IN SAID BLOCK THE GUIDEWAY ARRANGED TO RECEIVE A CONTACTING PIN ON THE END OF THE FLUORESCENT TUBE, PIN CONTACTING MEANS IN SAID BLOCK ARRANGED TO EFFECT AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO SAID PIN, A FLEXIBLE CONTACTING AND SEALING MEANS DEFINING AN ANNULAR RECESS IN THE END CAP AND ARRANGED TO ENGAGE AND HOLD THE END OF THE TUBE IN A MANNER TO EXCLUDE MOISTURE, AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTING MEANS TO CARRY CURRENT FROM SAID SOCKET ENGAGING MEANS TO SAID PIN CONTACTING MEANS. 